Vehicle clearance detector

ABSTRACT

An improved clearance detecting device for warning the driver of a vehicle of a impending obstruction. In a detecting device consisting of a base, an antenna, spring means connecting the base and antenna, and an electrical circuit with an alarm device and normally open switch means, the improvement consists of switch means comprising a contact surface and an elongate spring with two ends. One end of the spring is attached to the clearance detector device while the other end is responsive when the antenna is deflected to engage the contact surface so that the electrical circuit is closed and the alarm device activated.

This invention relates to sensory and detector devices.

In another respect the invention pertains to improvements in clearancedetection and warning devices for vehicles.

In yet another respect the invention pertains to improvements indetection devices for warning a vehicle approaching a structure whenclearances are less than required for safe passage of the vehicle underor by the structure.

Clearance detector devices, in particular overhead clearance devicesdesigned principally for trucks, are well-known in the art. For example,see U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,554,371 to Marx, 2,834,002 to Nordsiek, 2,902,671to Pitt, 3,137,267 to Hurt, 3,232,265 to Hurt and 3,269,783 to Kriz.These prior art devices are essentially comprised of a deflectableantenna for contacting overhead obstructions, a base adapted to receivethe antenna and to be mounted on the vehicle, and an alarm device. Thealarm device is in electrical or mechanical communication with theantenna so that when the antenna is deflected on contacting anobstruction, the alarm warns the driver of the vehicle of the closeproximity of the obstruction.

Although such prior art clearance detectors would seem of value inpreventing damage to vehicles, observation has confirmed that the use ofthe above prior art clearance detectors has either been very limited orperhaps non-existent.

This minimal utilization has probably resulted because the prior artdetectors are generally difficult to install, susceptible to damage, andoverly complex and expensive in relation to the simple, infrequentfunction such devices are required to perform.

A principal disadvantage of known clearance detectors is that suchdetectors are susceptible to damage. If a vehicle driver were to contactan obstruction with the bracket structure supporting the antenna, manyof the prior art detectors would be severely damaged if not destroyed.For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,137,267 to Hurt, if the tubular memberidentified by Reference No. 24 in FIG. 1 struck an obstruction, evenwith a truck traveling at a slow rate of speed, the detector devicewould probably be permanently damaged. In this regard see also U.S. Pat.Nos. 2,554,371 to Marx, 2,834,002 to Nordsiek, and 3,269,783 to Kriz.

Another disadvantage of prior art clearance detectors is that they areunnecessarily obtrusive. Practically speaking, a driver does not wantthe mechanical scale and pointer combination disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.3,232,265 inside the vehicle impeding both the view from and themovement of passengers within the vehicle.

Many of the prior art clearance detectors are overly complicated inrelation to the function they perform. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,269,783 toKriz, a simple electrical alarm system is combined with two detectorantennas, one antenna being shorter than the other, an air tank,connections to the front and rear brace, two blade springs and switches,and so on. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,834,002 to Nordsiek not two but threeswitches and three separate warning lights are provided in the alarmsystem. Past history has demonstrated that vehicle owners are generallynot willing to pay for such complexity to perform the simple, infrequenttask of being warned of impending obstructions.

Finally, the prior art clearance detectors each have been generallydesigned with a particular limited application in mind. For instance,certain of such devices are attached to the upper part or roof of avehicle to warn of overhead obstructions. Other detector mechanisms aremounted on the fender of a vehicle to alert a driver of a nearby curve.Typically the overhead detector devices cannot be readily utilized ascurb warning devices and vice versa. In addition, both the overhead andthe curb detection devices are generally not designed for facileattachment to building constructions, for example, to an awning coveringgasoline pumps, so that the driver of an approaching high-profilevehicle may be alerted when the vehicle would not safely pass underneaththe awning.

To remedy the deficiencies of the prior art clearance detectors,described above, it would be highly advantageous to provide astructurally simple clearance detector which was durable in operationand had a minimal likelihood of being damaged in contactingobstructions.

It would also be highly desirable to provide a clearance detector whichcould be mounted and utilized on the roof or fender of a vehicle and onbuilding constructions.

It would further be highly desirable to provide an improved clearancedetector which was inexpensive to manufacture and sell.

In addition, it would also be highly desirable to provide an improvedclearance detector which could be quickly and conveniently attached toexisting vehicles and building constructions by relatively unskilledpersons using only simple, conventional hand tools.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to providean improved vehicle clearance detector.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved clearancedetector which would have a minimal likelihood of being damaged incontacting obstructions.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved clearancedetector which is structurally simple and durable and is inexpensive tomanufacture and sell.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clearance detectorwhich may be conveniently attached to and used on existing vehicles orbuilding constructions.

Still another and further object of the invention is to provide animproved clearance detector which can be simply and readily attached toexisting vehicles and building constructions by persons of limitedmechanical skill using conventional, simple hand tools.

These and other, further and more specific objects and advantages of theinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from thefollowing detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with thedrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle with a clearance detectorembodying the principals of the present invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the presently preferred embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the clearance detector of FIG. 2taken along section line 3--3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of an optional means for mountingthe clearance detector of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a vehicle with embodiments of thepresent invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a vehicle with embodiments of thepresent invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a building construction with embodimentsof the present invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a vehicle with an embodiment of thepresent invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention.

Briefly, in accordance with my invention, I provide an improvedclearance detecting device mountable on vehicles and on constructionsunder and by which the vehicles pass, to warn the driver of a vehicle ofan impending collision between said vehicle and said construction. Thedetector generally includes a base, an antenna deflectable on contactinga vehicle or on contacting a construction, elongate spring means,laterally deflectable from a normally generally linear position, forattaching the antenna to the base, and an electrical circuit having analarm device and normally open switch means, the switch means beingresponsive to close when the antenna is contacted and deflected.

The improvements in this general type of vehicle clearance detectorwhich are comprehended by the present invention include switch meanscomprising a contact surface in the electrical circuit, and elongateflexible means normally generally parallel to the spring means andhaving a pair of ends. One of the ends, i.e., either the upper or thelower end, is attached to the clearance detector device.

One of the pair, i.e., either the upper or the lower end, is responsivewhen the antenna is deflected to engage the contact surface so that theelectrical circuit is closed and the alarm device is activated.

Turning now to the drawings, which depict the presently preferredembodiments of the invention for the purpose of illustrating thepractice thereof and not by way of limitation of the scope of theinvention, FIG. 1 illustrates vehicle clearance detectors 10 mounted ona vehicle 11 approaching an awning 12 positioned over fuel pump 13.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a vehicle detector device 10 incorporating thepresently preferred embodiment of the invention. The detector 10includes an antenna 15 received by an aperture 16 in an electricallyinsulating cap 17. The threaded screw 18, received by the internallythreaded aperture 19, is tighted to security antenna 15 in the cap 17.The cap 17 engages the upper end of a spring 20. The lower end of spring20 engages a base 21.

The base 21 is comprised of an inverted cylindrical housing 21a attachedto a circular disc 21b provided with apertures 22 which receive threadedmounting screws 22a. The disc 21b is further provided with aperture 14.

The cylindrical housing 21a is provided with an aperture 23 and anupright cylindrical cap 24 having an aperture 25. Apertures 25, 23, 16and 14 are all concentric to the verticle axis drawn through therespective centers of said apertures.

A spring 26 with integrally formed upper 27 and lower 28 ends is mountedinside of and concentric with spring 20. Threaded screw 29, received bythe internally threaded aperture 30 in the cap 17 secures the upper end27 of the spring 26 in the aperture 16. The lower end 28 of the springis centered in apertures 23 and 25.

An electrical circuit 31 is provided with an on/off switch 32, a battery35, an audio alarm 33 and visual alarm 34. The circuit is connected tothe lower end 28 of spring 26 and the base 21 by, respectively, leads 37and 36.

In operation, with the switch 32 in the "on" position, the antenna 15 isdeflected on contacting an obstruction. As the antenna is deflected, thelower end 28 of spring 26 moves laterally into contact with the surfaceof the aperture 25. When the end 28 contacts the aperture 25, theelectrical circuit 31 is closed, and electricity travels from lead 37through end 28 and the base 21 to lead 36 activating the alarms 33 and34.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cylindrical housing 21a may optionally beprovided with a U-shaped mounting bracket 38. The bracket 38 includesthe internally threaded aperture 39 which receives the threaded thumbscrew 40.

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate alternate embodiments of the clearance detector 10affixed to vehicles 11 and to an awning 12. The embodiments differaccording to various alternative antenna constructions 15a-15d.

In FIG. 9 another embodiment of the clearance detector 10 with thealternative antenna construction is shown.

As earlier described the spring 26 and its integrally formed ends 27 and28, as illustrated in FIG. 3, acts as a switch mechanism which closesthe circuit 31 and activates the alarms 33 and 34 when the antenna 15 isdeflected. The spring "switch" 26, because of its ability to bedisplaced with and bend with the concentric spring 20, provides a switchmechanism of long-lasting durability and of simple and inexpensivemanufacture.

Having described my invention in such clear, concise and exact terms asto enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice it, andhaving described the presently preferred embodiments thereof, Iclaim:
 1. In a clearance detecting device for warning the driver of avehicle of an impending obstruction, including(a) a base adapted forattachment to an existing structure; (b) an antenna for contacting saidobstruction; (c) primary spring means, laterally deflectable from anormally generally linear position, for attaching said antenna to saidbase, and (d) an electrical circuit having an alarm device and normallyopen switch means, said switch means responsive to close and activatesaid circuit when said antenna is contacted and deflected by saidobstruction,the improvements in said clearance detecting device whichpermit deflection of said antenna in any direction through an arc of atleast 90° and in which said switch means comprises, (a) a contactsurface mounted in said base and included in said circuit, and (b)elongate spring means normally generally parallel along the lengththereof to said primary spring means and having a pair of ends,(i) afirst end attached to said clearance detector device, and (ii) meansmounting said first end to said primary spring means, and (iii) asubstantially free end of said elongate spring means responsive whensaid antenna is deflected to engage said contact surface so that saidcircuit is closed and said alarm device is activated.